Locomotive having combined internal-combustion and electric propulsion system



June 14, 1927. 1,632,209

E. ZBINDEN LOCOMOTIVE HAVING COMBINED INTERNAL COMBUSTION AND ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEM Filed July 1926 a r' 0 000000 E 7 b 1 K 000000 c I" new: June 14, 1927.

TNITED STATES EUGEN'ZBINDEN, or wrn'rnn'rrrun, SWITZERLAND, assrenon '.I.O THE FIRM sULznn rnnnns socm'rn ANONYME, or wm'rnnrnnn, swI'rzEnLAnn.

LOCOMOTIVE HAVING COMBTNED INTERNALCOMBUSTION AND ELECTRIC PROIPUlL- SIGN SYSTEM.

Application filed July 24, 1926, Serial No. 124,731, and in Switzerland August 7, 1925.

This invention relates to locomotives of the kind in which two or more electric gen-' erators, each directly coupled'to an internal combustion engine, supply current to driving motors on or connected to the driving axles.

The object of the invention is to provide a locomotive in which the internal combustion engines and generators are arranged so as to give the maximum amount of space between andaround them.

According to this invention two similar power units, each comprising an internal combustion engine directly coupled to an electric generator, are arranged parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the locomotive in such a manner that the widest part of one unit is not directly opposite the widest part of the other set, thus affording a wide passageway between them. Preferably the generator of one set is at the opposite end of its set to the generator of the other set-i. e. the two units of each pair of sets are arranged at an angle of 180 to each other. The end of the generator shaft remote from the internal combustion engine may be conveniently used to drive a fan.

One construction of locomotive according to this invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompany in drawings, in which %igure 1 is a side elevation, and

Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

In the construction shown the body a of the locomotive contains two internal combustion engines 12 directly coupled to electric generators 0 which supply current to motors c coupled to the driving axles d. The generator sets are of equal power and are arranged parallel to one another and to the length of the vehicle frame so that the generators which constitute the Widest portion of each set are not directly opposite to one another so that a passageway of ample width is provided between each set.

If desired more than two sets can be arranged in pairs so that the generators of each pair are at opposite ends of their respective sets as illustrated or are otherwise arranged so that they are not directly opposite to one another for the purpose described. The end of each generator shaft remote from the internal combustion engine which drives it may be used to drive a fan such as that shown at f and these fans may either be arranged on the wall of the locomotive body or casing and driven through belts or other gearing or they may be directly coupled to the generator shafts.

What I claim is:

1. In a locomotive in combination a pl rality ofelectric generators, a plurality of internal combustion engine sets and a plurality of motors connected to the driving axles of the locomotive and supplied with current by the said generators, the groups of internal combustion engines and electric generators of equal power being arranged parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame at both sides of said frame, the combustion engines of each group situated at the one side of the frame facing the electric generators of each group placed at the other side of the frame.

2. In a locomotive in combination two electric generators, two internal combustion engine sets and motors supplied with current by the said generators and connected to the driving axles of the vehicle frame, one

set of internal combustion engines and electric generators being arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame at one side and the other set of combustion engines and electric generators of equal power at the other side of the vehicle frame parallel to the first mentioned set and to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, the combustion engines and electric generators of the one set facing the electric generators and combustion engines respectively of the other set.

3. In a locomotive in combination a plurality of electric generators, a plurality of internal combustion engine sets and a plurality of motors connected to the driving axles of the locomotive and supplied with current by the said generators, the groups of internal combustion engines and electric generators of equal power being arranged parallel to each other and to the longitudi- 'nal axis of the vehicle frame at both sides of said frame, the combustion engines of each group situated at the one side of the frame facing'the electric generators of each group placed at the other side of the frame,

and fans fixed to the ends of the generator shafts remote from their respective internal combustion engines.

4. In a locomotive in combination two electric generators, two internal combustion engine sets and motors supplied with current by the said generators and connected to the driving axles of the vehicle frame, one

set of internal combustion engines and electric generators being arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the. vehicle frame at one side and the other set of combustion engines and electric generators of equal power at the other side of the vehicle frame parallel to the first mentioned set and to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle frame, the combustion engines and electric generators of the one set facing the electric generators and combustion engines respectively of the other set and the ends of the generator shafts remote from their respective internal combustion engines being used to drive fans. In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

EUGEN ZBINDEN. 

